Urban Pioneers: How Cities Are Shaping the Future Today. Round Table
Academy of Architecture
Date: 5 May 2026 / 18:00
Urban Pioneers: How Cities Are Shaping the Future Today
Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 6:00 pm
Zurich, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich
Round Table with:
Sascha Roesler Professor of Urbanisation Theory, Accademia di architettura USI
Roger Boltshauser Architect
Oona Horx Strathern Researcher
Monika Litscher Director Schweizerischer Städteverband
Moderator: Kalina Oroschakoff, NZZ correspondent for climate policy
Whether in a metropolis, a city, or a rural area, people are increasingly challenged to design their living environments in ways that are ecologically, technologically, and socially sustainable.
The discussion focuses on the key drivers of transformation: smart infrastructure, climate-responsive architecture, innovative mobility concepts, and the impact of digital technologies on life in densely populated areas.
Drawing on national and international case studies, the event explores how different societies are reimagining their environments—from Singapore, which achieves a high quality of life despite spatial constraints, to Hamburg’s Grasbrook district, combining climate protection, social cohesion, and new working environments, and Copenhagen, a bicycle-friendly city and pioneer of the “sponge city” concept.
Finally, the focus turns to Switzerland: which of these approaches can be applied to existing cities? In which areas does Switzerland set international standards, and where can it learn from experiences abroad?
The event can be followed online
More information available HERE